JEANNE SYLVESTER joined Benjamin Historic Certifications (BHC) in 2018, after she graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master’s of Science degree in Historic Preservation. Jeanne is an attorney with over 30 years of experience in the private and public sectors, including working for the City of Chicago Law Department.
While at the School of the Art Institute, Jeanne interned in the Department of Planning and Development Historic Preservation Division where she researched and drafted landmark designation reports, prepared Federal Section 106 review, assisted with the Chicago Historic Resources Survey requests for demolition permits and public inquiries for information, and reviewed discovery materials for Hanna v. City of Chicago litigation. She also interned at WTTW, Chicago PBS, where she assisted with the award-winning series "Ten that Changed America."
BENJAMIN HISTORIC CERTIFICATIONS At BHC, Jeanne has researched and drafted National Register of Historic Places and local landmark nominations in Chicago, Barrington Hills, Lake Bluff and Winnetka. She has prepared Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze applications in Chicago and North Shore communities; researched, drafted and photographed Historic and Architectural Impact Studies (HAIS), prepared Historic Resource Evaluations, and other reports for local building review commissions for municipalities in Chicago and along the North Shore, and researched and written Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) reports. Jeanne has also conducted multiple historic and architectural surveys including in Lake Bluff, Wilmette and Highland Park.
AUTHOR Jeanne authored a peer-reviewed article entitled "The 'Beaux-Arts Boys' of Chicago: An Architectural Genealogy, 1890 – 1930" published by the journal Classicist, for the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
AWARDS Jeanne and Susan Benjamin of BHC received Chicago Landmark Awards for Preservation Excellence in Rehabilitation from the City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks for Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze projects in 2021 and 2025.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES Jeanne was chairperson of the Architectural and Historic Preservation commissions for the Village of Long Grove where she was responsible for, among other things, managing the commission that reviews architectural and landscaping plans and permits for new construction, additions, and remodeling of existing structures within the Village's historic business district, "office" zoning districts, and planned unit developments and advised the Village Board on historic preservation matters. She was also on the board of directors of the Long Grove Historical Society. Jeanne recently moved to a historic home in Evanston where she currently lives with her family.
EDUCATION Ms. Sylvester holds a BA from Northwestern University in history, a JD from DePaul University College of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review, and a MS in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.